Turbulence in Indian aviation financing sector: time to understand and implement the Cape Town regime in the true spirit

Abstract India, being a vast country with middle-income population, requires speedy and economic means of transportation for connecting its different parts. With rail and road transportation not having immense success in providing speedy means of transportation, aviation connectivity is of prime importance to India. Unfortunately, the Indian aviation sector is having a disastrous run over the years with several big players ending up in bankruptcy. Added to this, several Indian laws stand as impediments to enforcing the rights of financiers in the aviation sector. Accordingly, the financiers are not willing to take the risk of investing in the Indian aviation sector. This issue has been continuing even after India has become a party to the Cape Town regime relating to aviation financing in 2008. The failure to implement the Cape Town regime is the chief reason for continued turbulence in Indian aviation financing. Hence, a probe into the Cape Town regime relating to aviation financing with a view to implement it in the true spirit attains great significance in India.